Edge Hill strike threat

Academics at Britain's newest university - Edge Hill - are threatening to strike over proposed contracts that they say would lead to pay cuts. The University and College Union believes that the contracts that John Cater, the vice-chancellor, wants to enforce would prevent normal career progression and would reduce experienced lecturers' salaries by thousands of pounds. The contracts are a version of the National Pay Framework Agreement, which was accepted nationally by university employers and higher education unions.